Jonathan Berent is a licensed clinical social worker who practices at Berent Associates in Great Neck, NY, treating people with anxiety-related issues. He also operates from a website entitled Social-Anxiety.com. Through the website, he apparently maintains an email list of those who have contacted him for help with their anxiety. nIn the latter part of 2005, Mr. Berent contacted, by email, a seemingly random selection of people on that email list to announce a contest he was sponsoring. nInitially, the entrants were expected only to submit a single essay. nExcerpts copied from the email announcing the contest: n”Win the comprehensive self-therapy audio CD Program Beyond Shyness: How to Conquer Social and Performance Anxieties and a free consultation with Jonathan Berent
L.C.S.W. (Total value $472).”” n””Here is the contest: I am looking for the best description of the energy of avoidance
the anxiety which causes the avoidance; i.e. You know you should do something
but you give yourself permission to avoid; you rationalize
you lie to yourself; whatever!! … What does this process of anxiety-avoidance feel like? What are the thoughts